|
 HOW
DO YOU KNOW IF SOMEONE IS REALLY A PROPHET OR A
PROPHETESS?
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A PROPHET IS REAL? HOW DO I
KNOW IF I AM A PROPHET? GOD, IS THIS PROPHET FROM YOU?
MODERN DAY PROPHETS?
To be
direct and to the point, a prophet of God, is a person
that God uses to foretell what he (God) is going to do
in the future. (Period)
A true prophet
is not a lecturer, he is only the P.A. system. God did
not intend for this to be a glorified ego inflating
position. A true prophet is simply one who repeats what
God (or the Holy Spirit) tells them to say.
A question that
I commonly get asked is: "How do I know if I've been
called to be a prophet?" The answer is: "If you have to
ask me, you're not!, trust me".
Another thing I
hear allot is: "My pastor (or a prophet) told me that I
am a prophet. These people are also commonly told that
they just need to cultivate their gift or go to a school
to develop it.
What kind of
prophet would you be if you needed another prophet or
pastor to tell you that you "are one?" Prophesy is one
of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You don't learn a gift
and you don't earn a gift. The Holy Spirit either gives
it to you, or he does not.
1Corinthians 12:11-12
-
But one and the same Spirit works all these things,
distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Do you
understand this verse? The Holy Spirit distributes his
gifts as "he" wills. Not as "you" will, or your pastor
wills, or some prophet wills. You can't practice or
learn it! You can't buy it! You can't earn it! Stop
seeking the gifts and start seeking the giver. (for your
eternal sake)
How can you
tell if a prophet is real? Is the prophet 100% accurate
"all" of the time? If they are not, could God make a
wrong prediction? Some would argue, but "this" prophet
is right 99% of the time. So, ask yourself: Can God
be wrong even 1% of the time? Of course not.
Even if a
persons predictions come to pass, that does not
automatically make them a prophet. If the Holy Spirit
reveals something to you, (and make no mistake,
sometimes he does) does this mean you are instantly a
prophet?
Example: I
installed a new water softener and toilet and fixed the
bathroom sink in our house. Does this make me a plumber?
I also finished our basement and built a shed. Does this
make me a carpenter, electrician or contractor?
Of course the
answer to these questions is "No". The only thing that
this makes me, is "handy". If God speaks to us through
his Holy Spirit, all he expects from us is to be "handy
and obedient", not setting ourselves up with a title
(prophet) and flowing robes as to be admired by men.
Your
question should not so much be, "How do I know if a person is a
prophet or prophetess?", but rather, "is this person a
prophet or prophetess of God, or a false prophet?"
Matthew 7:22
"Many will say to Me on that day,
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in
Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many
miracles?'
Matthew 7:23
"And then I will declare
to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO
PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
These two
statements by Jesus are packed with information
concerning prophets. If the "many" that Jesus referred
to, had cast out demons and performed miracles, then we
can only assume that the prophesies they gave were
somewhat accurate also.
Important
because most people assume that a "false" prophet is one
who is just simply "making it up". On
the other hand, there were (and are) those false
prophets who did (and do) "just that!"
Ezekiel
13:2 "Mortal
man," he said, "denounce the prophets of Israel who make
up their own prophecies. Tell them to listen to the word
of the LORD."
Ezekiel 13:3
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "These foolish
prophets are doomed! They provide their own inspiration
and invent their own visions.
There are also those
who sincerely believe that, what they invent in their
own minds actually comes from the Lord. The book of
Jeremiah in the old testament refers to them as: "these
prophets of the deception of their own heart"
Jeremiah 23:26 "How long? Is there anything
in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood,
even these prophets of the deception of their
own heart.
If
the person in question is giving personal "feel good"
readings to members of the congregation and/or has a
weekly "Word from the Lord", I'm sorry, but chances are
they are probably "not" the real deal!
Some
of these self proclaimed prophets and prophetess's seem
to hear from God more every week than Adam, Moses, Noah,
Joseph, Abraham and Jesus did during their entire lives
and ministries! (Put together) You can tell a tree by
it's fruit! The difference between a psychic and a
prophet are this: A psychic tells your future for fun,
profit, entertainment etc.. A True prophet foretells
Gods works. (Period)
Here
is something to consider while you are pondering over
the person who is prophesying in front of you and trying
to decide if they are really a prophet. Jesus said:
Luke 13:33
"Nevertheless I
must journey on today and tomorrow and the next
day;
for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of
Jerusalem.
Did Jesus mean
this literally? Jesus was headed to Jerusalem knowing he
would be put to death. What do you think? Was he talking
literally or figuratively?
Do prophets
exist?
According to Paul in 1st Corinthians, Yes they do! Paul
even considered Prophesy, the most honorable of the
"Gifts of the Holy Spirit", and stated that he wished
everyone had this gift. However, just like today, Paul
had to write a letter to the church in Corinth because
every one seemed to be competing for this most honored
gift.
Because they were talking over one another, Paul laid
out simple rules such as "Speak one at a time" and tried
to redirect their attention. Paul told them that greater
than prophecy or any of the other gifts was "Love". Paul
stated that even if you have these gifts, but don't have
love, you have "Nothing". I call this a tactful and
gentle way of reprimanding the very new church.
PROPHETESS?
As
far as the many church ladies with a "Word from the
Lord", Paul wrote specifically about prophets
from 1 Corinthians 14: 29 thru 40. Keep in mind these 11
verses are talking specifically about prophets and
prophesy.
Directly in the middle of these 11 verses are 1
Corinthians 14:34 and 35 which state:
1 Corinthians
14:34 - The women are to keep silent in the churches;
for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject
themselves, just as the law also says.
1 Corinthians 14:35 - If they desire to learn anything,
let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is
improper for a woman to speak in church.
Are there women
prophets? The answer is "yes", but keep in mind, there
were women claiming to be prophets in the time of Paul
and even in the time of Ezekiel. They (and male false
prophets) have always been with us.
One thing has
not changed. In Ezekiel's time there were one or two
true prophets of God, but a whole plethora of false and
self proclaimed prophets. I believe it is the same
today.
Ezekiel 13:17
The LORD said, "Now, mortal man, look at the women among
your people who make up predictions. Denounce them
Ezekiel 13:23
So now your false visions and misleading predictions are
over. I am rescuing my people from your power, so that
you will know that I am the LORD."
THE OUT POURING
Joel 2:28 "It
will come about after this That I will pour out My
Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will
prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men
will see visions.
Joel 2:29
"Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My
Spirit in those days.
All
Mankind? Are we to take this literally, or assume that
it will be directed at Christians only? If you are a
Christian, then in either case, it may apply to "you".
Do you have children? Then they may very well prophesy!
(male and female) Are you
an old man? Then you might dream dreams! Are you a young
man? Then you might see visions!
Are you a servant of
God? Then God will pour out his spirit on you!
So,
should you be shocked and awed when someone steps to the
front of the church and says: "God told me there is
someone here tonight that is wearing socks?". Or "There
is someone here that has marriage problems!"
I
don't think so, because when God pours out his spirit,
it will probably be "you" giving the prophesy, and it
will probably be something a little more significant.
This is not to say that there are not true prophets
among us. But, I am saying, you will know a tree by it's
fruit!
God is not into parlor
tricks or entertainment he does not give personal "feel
good" readings to members of the congregation. If you
want that, one would need to talk to a medium or one of
the many psychic's like you see on television and God
clearly says to "STAY AWAY FROM THEM!".
Prophecies from Gods true prophets, more often than not,
took sometimes hundreds of years to come to pass. Most
of Gods Prophets died horrible, painful, humiliating
deaths! Are you sure you want to be a Prophet? (a real one!)
You would be wise not to put too much stock in the
prophets and prophetesses who simply repeat scriptures
or verses from the book of Revelations. Usually this
word from the lord preceded by the words "Thus saith
the Lord".
Traditionally, the prophets of old
did not read scripture, they were the ones writing it.
When scripture was recited, it was usually to point out a
prophesy that had come to pass or was fulfilled.
The gift of prophecy was intended to edify and
build up the new religion in Paul's time, it, like
tongues, and many other things are too often being
reduced to a carnival or side show type of
entertainment.
Any of us can
go into a congregation of 300+ people and say: "God told
me, there is someone with "back trouble" here tonight,
we would surely find two or three hands raised in the
audience.
Even
though there is a wave of Ooo's and Ahh's from the
congregation, I'm sorry to inform you that, this is no
more Miraculous, than me saying to a crowd of 10,
someone here is wearing a watch!! (Gasp!) You will know
a tree by it's fruit.
A
true prophet is indeed fascinating, but, YOU do not need
a prophet to foretell your future! You need to dedicate
your life to the Lord and be persistent in prayer and he
will give you the desires of your heart!!
Sometimes the so called prophet or
prophetess is a very well meaning, God loving person.
They've read Paul's description of the "Gifts of the
Spirit" and feel they must have this gift! For more
information, read my article pertaining to the Holy
Spirit and gifts of the spirit -
http://www.powerofaith.com/holyspirit.htm .
SO, YOU
WANT TO BE A PROPHET!
John
the Baptist was beheaded, the Prophet Isaiah was sawed
in half, Zechariah was Stoned and Daniel was sick for 7
days after giving a prophecy. (Still sound glamorous?)
The self
proclaimed prophets of today, entice you to keep coming
back for another "fix" constantly. You don't constantly
need someone to tell you what is going to happen
tomorrow, you only need faith in God that he will make
tomorrow go well for you. (the key word here is faith)
Use
common sense! You do not need a prophet! The "only"
connection between you and God, is Jesus Christ! Not
Mary, not your pastor and not some prophet! I can save
you the trouble! Skip the prophet! Seek the Lord with
all your heart and he "will" give you the desires of
your heart! Miracle! Healing! You name it! If God really
deems it necessary to send a prophet to you, you'll know
it!
Seek
God, not the prophet!
God Bless You
Dan Douglass
.DID
THIS ARTICLE/PAGE HELP?
Let Me Know! This form is simply an
easy way to contact me. Just type your message in the
box below and hit the button that says" "GO FOR IT".
If you drink the
wine, pay the bartender! Your gift is needed and appreciated |
